xp_logs | The Rictor Effect: The Phone Call

Not knowing where else to turn to get help for his son, Luis Richter calls an old friend. Nathan promises to be on the first plane for Mexico the next morning.

Luis Richter drummed his fingers nervously on the chair arm. Julio was out, thank God. After the revelations of the late morning, the boy had cried until he had exhausted himself. But he refused to sleep until the nurse came in to knock him out. Seems the staff weren't keen on having someone who could shake the ground be awake in their hospital. Normally, Luis wouldn't blame them. But it was Julio who was the mutant. And it was Julio who needed protecting. The cellphone rang two more times. He said the number was current, but that was months ago. With Dayspring, you just never knew...

Damn it! That was the last time he didn't keep his cell phone on his person, Nathan thought dourly as he dove for the phone where it had slipped between the cushions of the couch. Rachel, tucked under one of his arms, squealed derisively.

"Hush," Nathan scolded her, coming up with it and flipping it open. "Hello?" he asked.

"Dayspring? Is that you?" Luis frowned. The voice was familiar, but was that a baby in the background?

Nathan's eyes widened slightly. "Luis?" he asked, unable to quite hide his surprise. "Yes, it's my daughter... just a second," he said, going over and depositing Rachel in her playpen. "Sorry about that," he said, moving off to the other side of the room so that Rachel's burbling would be less audible. "Luis," he said, still amazed. "It's good to hear your voice. It's been a while."

"Yes. Yes it has. You have a daughter now?" Luis couldn't hide his surprise. He tried to keep his voice low, even though the nurse assured him that Julio wouldn't wake for anything.

"I do. She's not quite a year old yet," Nathan said, leaning against the end of the couch as he stared out at the lake. "Something tells me this isn't a social call," he said. There was too much strain in the other man's voice. "What's wrong?"

Luis sighed audibly. He looked over to where Julio was asleep. "You remember my boy, right? Julio? You met him once, in Chihuahua."

"Of course I remember Julio," Nathan said reassuringly. "He's got to be... what, sixteen, now?"

"Yes. He'll be sixteen in a week. And..." And what? How could he say this? "Nathan, I'm afraid he's like you. Like a..." he trailed off.

... well, damn, Nathan thought, surprised. "A mutant," he said after a moment. "What's happened?"

Luis rubbed his bald spot. "Did you hear about the earthquake that happened in Guadalajara a few days ago?"

"Oh, lord," Nathan murmured. Of all the volatile abilities... "I hadn't, but I see where you're going."

"It's been going on for a while now. He's been having headaches all year, and the doctors thought that they were just migraines. But things kept shaking and five days ago..." Luis paused, trying to collect himself. "Five days ago, I think Julio caused an earthquake. It sent the car he was riding in off the road. He's lucky to be alive."

"Luis..." Nathan folded his free arm across his chest. "You're thinking that the school would be the best place for him." They'd spoken briefly over a year ago, not long after the wedding; GW had passed along the news and Luis had called to congratulate him.

Luis exhaled again. "I don't know what to do, Nathan. Julio's a good boy, but he's gone and done something very stupid. And now he's a mutant on top of everything else. You should see the doctors. They won't even look at him. The nurses refuse to touch him." He reached over and took Julio's hand. "I love my son, Nathan. But he's dangerous. People died in that accident. God only knows what could happen if he lost control again."

...people died in that accident. Nathan sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, riding out the stab of real sadness - both for those who'd died, and for the boy. Why did it so often have to be so hard for young mutants?

"I can be there tomorrow," he said quietly, after another moment's pause. "I'll talk to him, tell him about the school. We can arrange for a pick-up from there."

"You've saved my skin, Nathan." Luis gently squeezed Julio's hand. "And Julio's. He might not be too receptive to leaving home, but he doesn't have much of a choice." Especially since Mendoza would probably have the boy shot the instant he stepped out of the hospital.

"This is a good place, Luis," Nathan said, reassuringly. "I'll make sure he knows that. And I swear to you - once he's here, I'll look after him as if he were my own." He smiled. "We can consider this me finally paying you back for pulling David and I out of Chiapas that time."

Luis chuckled and rubbed the stump where the third knuckle of his pinkie should have been. "Consider that debt paid in full. Just help my son, Nathan." Julio mumbled something and shifted in his sleep. He looked so young. Too young to have to be leaving home. "Please, help him," Luis added.

"I'll do the best I can. And my best is pretty damned good," Nathan said softly. "What hospital?" He listened, then nodded to himself. "I'll get the first flight out and see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, then." Luis affirmed. Things would be put to rights tomorrow. "I'll be here at the hospital. They're kicking me out now." He nodded to the nurse who had appeared in the doorway. "But I'll be back in the morning."

"Try and get some sleep," was Nathan's advice. "I'll see you soon."

Luis snorted. "I haven't slept in five days. But it's not like we haven't done that before. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye Nathan."